Sky Sports journalist Pete Graves has said exactly what every Newcastle United fan wants to hear this summer.
While the summer transfer window is about strengthening Eddie Howe’s squad and ensuring that Newcastle United are in a better place than they were last season, it is also about retaining key players.
We have already seen suggestions of Anthony Gordon being sold get laughed off, with the 23-year-old a key player at St James’ Park.
But the bigger fears surround Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak, both of which are attracting strong interest from Arsenal. Bruno also has Manchester City looking at him, and there has been a concern that they could bid for him due to the situation surrounding Lucas Paqueta.
Arsenal would love to sign either player, with Mikel Arteta desperate to topple Manchester City and get his hands on that Premier League title.
However, Newcastle United want to keep Bruno and Isak at St James’ Park, and Pete Graves believes that is exactly what they will do.
Graves makes strong claim about Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak’s Newcastle United futures
Sky Sports presenter and Toon fan Graves has been speaking about the future of Bruno and Isak on the latest episode of the Transfer Talk podcast.
He is adamant that they are staying put, believing that Arsenal and any other suitor will miss out.
“I have absolutely – and Newcastle fans listen to this – I have got no concerns about Bruno Guimaraes or Alexander Isak leaving the club,” he said.
“Opening game of the season next season, they will be striding out in black and white shirts.
“There’s this £100million release clause in Bruno’s contract, so someone would need to trigger that. He would then need to want to speak to the club that triggered it.
“Everything I hear from him and his family is that they love it [in Newcastle].”
Money will talk as Newcastle strive to keep Bruno and Isak
Hopefully Graves proves to be correct, and money will dictate whether or not that is the case.
Starting with Isak, him joining Arsenal seems like a non-starter. Newcastle do not want to sell, nor does he have a release clause in his contract. It has been reported that an offer of nearly £200million would be required for Toon officials to even consider letting the 24-year-old leave.
That is why Arsenal are well aware that they are not going to be able to sign Isak, who netted 24 goals in all competitions during the 2023/24 campaign.
However, the Gunners seem to believe it is a different story with Bruno. He has a £100million release clause that can be activated for a short period of time, yet it has been claimed that they think they can get him for less later in the summer.
That simply is not going to happen. Newcastle agreed to Bruno having a release clause to protect themselves, and the only way the 26-year-old will leave is if someone activates it.
If a club does come in with a £100million offer, you have to imagine that will be the end of Bruno at St James’ Park. But Arsenal seemingly are not keen to pay it, and neither are Manchester City.
With no club ready to pay the fee required and Newcastle not willing to negotiate, all signs seem to point towards Bruno staying put.
Of course, that could change in an instant if someone finds a spare £100million to spend on a ‘world class‘ midfielder…
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